001Wow. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey. Hey, Call to order. Uh, is there looks like no approval for electronic participation? Mr. Connor, pledge of allegiance. Stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a motion to the agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. McBurn. >> Uh, yes. >> Mr. Alen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lori. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Dr. Gupta, >> yes. >> Mr. Depal, >> yes. >> Mr. Julio, >> yes. >> Dr. Farmer, >> yes. >> Mr. Poe, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Next one is work session
002consent agenda item. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Madame clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Baron? >> Yes. >> Mr. Alen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lori? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Dr. Gupta? >> Yes. Mr. Talo, >> yes. >> Mr. Julio, >> abstain. >> Dr. Farmer, >> yes. >> Mr. Poe, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Next one is new business 2627 Bass Academic Year Calendar. Dr. >> Yes. All right. Good evening everyone. Um, tonight I present you with the proposed Bass Elementary School calendar for 2627. And I'm sure in years past this was part of your regular calendar adoption, but we did make some changes. And I want to kind of talk through the whole process and give everybody a little bit of
003context. So originally, like I said, listen, learn, observe, and we're looking for items if something's just not really flows or in in alignment. And one of the key areas, and we recognize where we are academically, and we all the strides that we're making um already now just so that we continue to improve the outcomes for our kids. And so I want to give you a little initial background. Um, initially I came to the academic success committee just to talk about the BAS year-round schedule because the way the current schedule is is that their calendar begins in July. All of the other schools begin in August and that misalignment there with that and we ended at the same time but we didn't start at the same time and that was some of the concerns because professional
004development wasn't at the same time. You're part you're splitting out resources. you gave a little bit of a PD in July, then you're given a little bit in August versus looking at what's that overall alignment so that all of our teachers are learning and growing together. So [snorts] that's kind of where that conversation started. Um from there after just kind of sharing those things with academic success had an opportunity to um because we were looking at moving it to a traditional calendar. So had an opportunity to talk with the principal the um eventually the faculty and staff there. We had those meetings scheduled just discussing professional development, instructional alignment, and what it looks like now currently with BAS being on a year-long calendar where their calendar starts in July. So, as these conversations began, you
005know, a lot of the faculty and staff and they shared, hey, we really really believe in this model. um know they've had some students transition to them um from other schools into that started with them this school year and they felt confident hey we can make the academic gains within the current yearlong structure. So, in that spirit of collaboration, I said, "Well, let's go back and look at this. How can we both, you said you just got a a group of new kids this year, you want to work with them, make those academic gains with those students, but also align us as a division." And what I expressed to them was, I have to look at all schools. I have to look at what's going to be best for all kids. And with that, the
006current structure of us not having professional development at the same time and many of our assessments and things at the same time, it really was a problem there. So, the proposed model that you have tonight still keeps them on a year- round schedule. However, they start in August. They start at the same time as us. They just end a little later. Ending a little later is is more advantageous to the entire division. It doesn't change anything about Bass's model other than they instead of ending with us, they start with us. And by starting with us, that gives us time for proper rollover. When you're talking about technology and student information systems, it helps us with professional development so that we can have new teacher academy with everyone there. Um, we can have professional development with
007everyone there. As we're going through curriculum and curriculum changes and and modifications that we need to do, it's better for us to all have all heads together and look at what's going to be best for all of us. We shouldn't have days where we have professional development [laughter and cough] for [clears throat] every school in the division but not have it for bass. We need to be able to take care of everyone. So that shared date will have um systemwide coherent. It really will reduce some of the scheduling challenges. One of the things that I faced when I first came on board, I got a lot of calls from parents that were like, "Hey, I have kids at, you know, at, you know, the middle school or the high school and you all are starting
008at different times." And with this start at the same time, you can put all your babies out out on the bus or bring them to school starting around that same time. Um, again, improved alignment with our professional development and overall onboarding of staff. We actually are going to have better alignment with our assessments. The only change would be that their so testing at Bass obviously would be a little bit later and that's fine. That's all approved by the state because they recognize their unique model. It's not your traditional school. Um it also provides us with stronger support for students transitions. Um we've talked about alternative learning and student support. when we start thinking about just behavior specialists and having student support in classrooms and in buildings, being on a similar schedule is really helpful in
009terms of providing that support for for our children. Um, and then one beautiful thing that came out of it was uh jumpstart. We were having a conversation with the principal and with uh Dr. Davis and just talking about well what is this going to look like? You know, what does this look like for the month of July? And um I can't say we'll all agree, but I know Dr. Davis and I agree on the fact that sometimes traditional summer school just doesn't hit the mark, >> right? It it really doesn't. And how can we give better transition for our students as we um as we get ready for the year. So from there, instead of their traditional intercession at the beginning of the year or in the middle of the year, they're still going to
010have their intercessions and you can see that is represented in the calendar. Um but Dr. Davis like, well, what about a jump start? And so that conversation started with having those stu those students in there for about two weeks before school starts. You can focus on some academic concerns, but you can also work on routines and procedures. Just because I've been in school, you know, kindergarten, first, second grade. If I'm having some challenges with routines and procedures, maybe this is a good time. Hey, I've identified you. You need to come in here for these first two weeks. Let's work through some of these kinks before school starts. Um, so that gave us a real opportunity to continue to support the students at Bass, support the students divisionwide, and we're actually looking at how we can
011do some jump start ser, you know, I know Miss L and I talk about school readiness all the time, those kids that are just starting school, but sometimes a little later into school, we still may not be as school ready as we need to be. And so that kind of gives us a jump start there. But essentially, um I'm open to any questions, but if approved tonight, the next step in this process would be communicating with families. And I've already been working with communication department just um looking at if you all approve this that we'd be in a position to communicate with them and talk about, you know, this summer would be a lot of tra a little bit of more of transition, but those kids would still keep that calendar, but it's going to
012better align us across the division. Yes, sir. Mr. >> Um, so I'm seeing that both [snorts] calendars we have the jump start. So all of the schools would have an opportunity to participate in a basically a summer school type format July 20th through the 31st. >> Yes. And it would be select schools and select students. We want to be able it started as what to do with bass when we start looking at the summer. Okay. And then from there we started looking at some of our schools that are federally identified and we want to map this out and say what will this look like. So we're not saying divisionwide but it would be select schools so that we can we just want to do it small and do it well. >> Will it be similar
013like if like if since you're already going to be at Bass where we in the summer they have summer school at one elementary school, one middle school, one high school and everybody participated in that. Is similar that or >> it it'll be separate from summer school. um the one at Bass for their jump start. It'll just be Bass's jump start. Yes, sir. And we'll do it at the individual schools >> that are selected. >> Other questions? >> One thing I didn't hear a catch was what [clears throat] is the original reason why the VAS calendar is so different from the regular? >> Um what now or what you had before? >> The original the original reason why it started that way. >> I can >> that I can't tell you. That was probably 12, 13
014years. You want to tell them or I'm unsure. >> They got a 21st century grant >> and with through that grant they were able to do a year round. We went we did did all kind of surveys throughout the school system and stuff and they asked for teachers that wanted to go there and all this kind of stuff. And so through this grant there was a lot of things that were happening that the kids could do outside of school as well. The grant lasted like 15 years and then it's dropped off but um it just wasn't applied for again. Um but through that um the kids have got a lot of extracurricular things [clears throat] they did as well as help in the school. So um over the years things have changed the population shortage
015has changed and um so I think that's why that that's how it started and they started wearing uniforms. That's when uniforms were introduced. Um they asked us all citywide if we wanted to do uniforms. So teachers were some were against it, some weren't. Some parents were for their kids being there, some were not because they wanted their kids to stay on the same schedule, things like that. So, I can add anything else I missed. [laughter] >> No, I I appreciate that. I I do think that that covers it and that calendar was determined and it's just kind of stayed its course from the first time it was implemented. It's kind of stayed its course from the beginning to now. >> Little arbitrary, nothing strong. Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions? I just want to comment
016because we talked about this at length. I just want to recognize that this was a uh there was a concerted effort to talk to teachers and district what I understand on about this issue and about because it's it's a it's a polarizing issue. It's something that a lot of teachers feel strongly about and some parents feel strongly about. And so again, always in the effort of building trust, I want to commend the level of of uh intentionality that went into including people in conversation, discussion about this to arrive in this place, recognizing too that that not everybody's going to be happy with it regardless of which way we go. Um but uh that at at length the conversation we've had, I I feel strongly that this is a step in the right direction um that
017will help hopefully align things. again. Yes, >> you got things on two different calendars, especially at the beginning of the year. Uh, >> one of the things you said before, you didn't say this time is that you can communicate something to Bass team at one point and by the time you start with the rest of the school district, things have changed and so now you got to go back and communicate again to so there's just a lot of lay layers here. Uh, and I just want to again applaud you and thank you for willing to have conversations with teachers and staff at the school to to take them into consideration. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. And and yes, I'm glad you you brought that point up. We had a required social media training and
018I will be honest. I assumed everyone was having a a half day and PD day the next day. Well, I assumed wrong when I was looking at it. So, we planned the social media training because you as you all remember earlier in the year, there were a lot of things that were floating around on social media that had nothing to do with what we do every day for kids and teaching and learning. And you know, you all approved the social media policy. So, we have the training, set it up. I'm ready to go. I'm thinking, "Hey, this is great." And [clears throat] I'm talking to the BAS principal during the time of talking about this calendar. And during that conversation, I said, "Oh, yeah. Well, I can we can come over right after the social
019media training and meet with your staff because we were trying to find a date to come and meet." And she said, "Well, we're not on a half day." So then we had to make arrangements to get that video recording to them. And there's something about being in the discussion when it's happening versus like you just said getting a recording later and not being able to really see you know what's happening at the same time. So >> it looked like you wanted Go ahead. >> Yeah, of course. So I appreciate it Dr. Um could you give us a little insight in terms of parents and how they're responding to this? And then secondly, how would you go about selecting those uh schools to be part of the >> Oh, for the jump start. >> Yeah, for
020the jump start. >> Well, we haven't mapped out all of the um information with the jump start yet. We're still just sort of it jumped out at us and so we we actually said, well, this is a great idea. So, we're going to continue developing that and then communicating it with parents. And I think the beauty of this piece with the compromise with the calendar, they're still on year round, so nothing really changes for them other than they're going to start at the same time as everybody else. But we will communicate that out and make sure that parents understand we're not changing your year- round calendar. However, we are going to start the year with with everyone else. And that should help with some of the out of zone transfers and things and the requests
021that I get out of zone now. Thank you, Miss Lowry. used to be the superintendent placements of signing those letters of parents saying, "Hey, I don't want to start there because my kids are starting at a different time." So, we were sending kids to other schools. >> And also, I would like to add to what he's saying that I went around after Gloria Preston and I got that green section done. And this is an opportunity for our our uh business partners that do especially the ones that do after school because I know there's one lady in particular, can't think of her name right now, but that's what she does. She works with them on SOS and stuff, but she also works with them how to sit in class, how to, you know, how to behave,
022how to walk in. She does all that kind of thing. So, this is a great opportunity and like the money that you were talking about for our business partners to come in and and help with this. So, >> does that lady still work with us? >> I do not know. I will email her though. I do have her email, so I'll email her and do that, please, because I have several that will need assistance. >> Okay, I could do that. Other questions? >> I think jump start is a great idea because in my previous life people who are not taking summer classes forget between the spring and fall >> lot of materials. So I know administrators don't like it to be called remedial work but you need a catch up. Jump start is a wonderful
023term. [laughter] So I like it. Uh but it helps to build that bridge >> of when you're not taking summer classes. So looks like Mr. Mr. Baron, you were almost ready to make a motion to approve it. >> I'll move I'll move to approve. >> Is a second to >> I second that. >> Madame clerk, would you please call the role? >> Mr. Baron, >> yes. >> Mr. Alen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lori, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Dr. Gupta, >> yes. >> Mr. Depal, >> yes. >> Mr. Gillio, >> yes. >> Dr. Farmer, >> yes. >> Mr. Poe, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Next is continuation of budget discussion. Dr. Mitch, >> essentially just general update. We have not heard anything else back from from the city at
024this time. We did after you all approved the budget. We did send it over and we're just awaiting the the next steps as to what direction they're going to go. >> So I'm going to blame it on you Dr. Miz. You planted seeds in my brain >> and it has turned into a big tree now. City has about [snorts] anywhere from 10 to 14 million of extra money for one-time use. and they correct me if I'm wrong but that's the numbers I hear you know I don't have any authenticity of those numbers but to me our teachers and staff are working hard day in day out under adverse conditions last one week is a prime example >> mhm >> so Dr. Dr. one day was saying why don't last year the governor gave bonus and
025the bonus was 1,000 but end of the day it end up only 750 because we have to take the benefits into account. >> Mhm. So, I wanted to uh make a sort of a motion to so that we give this year $1,000, which will be $2 to $3 million of one-time money from the city and we as a board approve for her to reach out to the city administration. uh because that's one time bonus is only one time and this is a one-time money uh which will help uh uh send a message to the staff that we appreciate what you're doing. We thank you for all the hard work you put in and for city to give us part of the uh distribution of that onetime money. Right now there's no allocation I've heard for
026city schools from that excess money. [clears throat and snorts] So I don't know Mr. Connor you're chair of finance but I'm jumping. Would you like that to come from you sir or that's the >> No, I mean um I've already heard inklings of it and absolutely we should take care of our staff and if the money's available one time we should ask for it. You have not cuz you asked not. >> So right now it's just off the cuff. You don't know how much money will it cost but in general terms I was thinking we authorized her to ask for calculate how much will it cost to give 1,000 to everybody. So personally, I don't want it to be based on percentage of salary because if you're an hourly employee, you should get the same
027money as the superintendent is making. I know you can call me socialist, but that's the right thing to do. >> Agreed. I agree. >> You see what I'm saying? So if I make $15 an hour, I should get $1,000. If I make $50,000, and I should also get $1,000. >> So uh is that okay? Are you want to make a motion or I mean? >> Well, I'm I'm just saying that as long as we remember that like part-time, you know, cuz we have to adjust. Yeah. >> They'll adjust for part-time because we >> in the past we ran into situations where it wasn't articulated clearly. >> Um and the part-time people working less than 20 hours a week thought they were going to have access to the entire amount. So, make sure >> human resource
028can parroate right or whatever the policy is. Where? >> So, >> the policy you used last year will be the same policy you'll be using this year, right? >> Yeah. Well, she was here last year, but but [laughter] >> that's not my car, is it? >> Yes. It might need a little extra in the credit. >> Okay. [laughter] >> It's given this Jamie. >> Make sure we articulate that so that we don't because we had a lot of people that were really bummed that they didn't get the total amount. So, because we have a lot of drivers that say they only work, >> you know, morning shift or afternoon shift. So, >> Mr. I want everybody to get taken care of. >> Just clarifying. So, you're saying the total spend would be 3,000 or >>
0293 million? I'm sorry. >> No, I'm just giving it up. She has to figure that out. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. >> But I think what we'll do is we we'll be basically asking to give 1,000 to each employee. >> Okay. So, the motion will be to have Dr. Jammies and Dr. Majette put together a proposal to go to the city to ask for some money to give >> some money. money which will cover $1,000 bonus to each LCS employee hourly or on salary. They all will get the same one except for those who are part-time and that's between the policies to figure out how much >> you put the except in there >> just any time or is this going to be the day before Christmas type of thing? Is there a particular >> Has
030to be before June 30th. >> June 30th. >> This money has to be used by the city before the end of the budget year. Okay. So this will be has nothing to do with our budget. It it is a money they have access in their um >> city bank and um we we're asking to be fair to give city schools their due share. >> So may I ask this? Um I know the $1,000 or more I mean $1,000 per employee. If the 2% not 2% based on their salary, but if we find the 2% is more than the 1,000, you just want to do the 10,000 >> bonus is one time. It doesn't go into their base. >> No, they have a two they have a 2% bonus coming from the state this year. >>
031That's different. This is >> Okay. So, this is in addition to that. >> The 2% bonus goes into their base, right? >> Uh no, sir. Um it is before the general assembly that the governor has put forward a 2% onetime bonus this fiscal year. So we were going to calculate that as a across the board just standard amount that every employee would get and the state will reimburse us the SOQ portion of >> let's do in addition. >> So can we do which one is greater? In addition >> in addition this is nothing to do with what this is a local contribution. >> This is our city saying thank you to our >> Yes. Exactly. This is a local contribution. Uh the cost of living has gone up quite a bit. M >> you know
032I used to take a handful of money and bring a bagload of groceries. Now I take a bagload of money and get a handful of [laughter] groceries. That's the real you come to Kroger with me. I should not say the brand name you know you come to any grocery store and that's the reality of life >> and that's what every person is suffering and we should not be doing that. >> Do you want to make a motion or do you want me to make a motion? >> Can I ask a question before? >> Please have people get this 2%. So the protocol in the past has been that well it before it has been a a a flat fee. Um this year it's it's different in that it's a 2% bonus. Um but in the
033past the part-time people have gotten half of what the full-time people have gotten. So last year when the 750 was given out for full-time employees, the part-time employees got 350. >> That's fair. As long as they get something. >> Yeah. We should not forget the >> parters. Don't stir the pot together. >> We should not forget any employee. Part-time, full-time, they're all contributing to the academic success of our kids. >> Well, looking at me, looks like you're ready to make a motion, sir. >> Oh, I I'm all for it. Um >> go ahead. make a motion and then we'll go with a >> motion to give the [snorts] uh portion of the city's uh funds um leftover funds uh to city schools. >> The amount of $1,000 of $1,000. >> Dr. Farmer second. Any other
034discussion? Madame clerk, would you please call the >> Mr. Baron? >> Yes. >> Mr. Alen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lori, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Dr. Gupta. >> Yes. >> Mr. Depal. >> Yes. >> Mr. Julio. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Dr. Farmer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pow. >> C. >> Motion pass. >> Thank you. I [snorts] appreciate you Dr. for being so [laughter] you know you you you don't say it publicly but I I think I thank you for doing this. >> Uh that's the end of discussion on budget. >> Yes sir. >> Thank you. Next isform information item. Let me do one disclaimer. uh when I announce these committee uh meetings and days and times once the announcement is done then the batan is passed over to the committee chair. So
035if the meeting is canceled, not cancelled, it's all up to the committee and the committee chair. I made that announcement to the public, they have it. And uh so if the board clerk calls me tomorrow, do you want to cancel it? It's out of my hand. The baby has been given off. Does that make sense? It has been handed over to the committee chair. So I don't intervene in that situation. Period. Soformational item finance and facilities February 10th at uh >> 3:30 p.m. and Mrs. Lowry I was very good I was telling Mr. Connor in pointing changes which is good right >> so the corrections so it's publicly everybody knows when the meetings are >> academic success February 10th at 3:30 Mrs. Larry, is that the correct date? And the discipline data review, February 5th
036at 3:30. LACR, February 17th at 3:30. And the next school board meeting is February 17th at 5:00 p.m. Meeting is a journ. Thank you.